Bayer Leverkusen became the first team to finish a Bundesliga season undefeated on Saturday. They achieved this historic feat with a 2-1 victory over Augsburg in their final game. Early goals from Victor Boniface and Robert Andrich secured their 28th win in 34 league matches.
Leverkusen had already clinched the title in April, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year dominance. This unbeaten season makes them the first team in Europe’s top five leagues to do so since Juventus in the Italian Serie A in the 2011-12 season. Remarkably, Leverkusen hasn’t lost a game in any competition all season, maintaining a 51-game unbeaten streak.
During the match against Augsburg, Leverkusen was in control, but Mert Kömür scored for Augsburg in the 62nd minute. This prompted Leverkusen’s coach, Xabi Alonso, to bring on star players Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, who he had been resting for the upcoming Europa League and German Cup finals next week.
In other league news, local rival Cologne was relegated after a 4-1 loss to Heidenheim. Union Berlin secured their survival with a 2-1 win over Freiburg, causing Bochum to fall into the relegation playoff spot after losing 4-1 to Werder Bremen. Stuttgart finished second with a 4-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Bayern Munich ended their season with a 4-2 loss to Hoffenheim in Thomas Tuchel’s last game as coach. Mainz ensured their stay in the league with a 3-1 win at Wolfsburg.